Belgium travel advice
A summary of the UK government’s (FCDO) travel advice for Belgium, last updated by the FCDO on 17 October 2026. The full advice on GOV.UK is the authoritative version.
FCDO status
No areas listed where FCDO advises against travel
The FCDO’s alert status for Belgium names no areas where it advises against travel. The FCDO says no travel can be guaranteed safe. Read the full advice.
Latest FCDO update (17 October 2026): Additional information on demonstrations and strikes (Safety and security).
FCDO notice
National strike action
Strike action is an ongoing issue that can cause disruption.
Monitor local news and check with your provider regarding potential delays and closures. Always check with your travel operator for the latest updates. Read more information about demonstrations and strikes on the Safety and security page.
General strikes took place on 31 March, 29 April,14 October, 26 November, 15 December 2025, 12 March, 12 May, 9 and 12 October 2026. Strike action may be announced at short notice.
Passport validity
Belgium follows Schengen area rules. Your passport must:
- have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it might have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago, making it invalid for entry to the Schengen area
- have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area (the expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue)
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
From FCDO: entry requirements. Written for British passport holders.
Recent FCDO updates
- 17 October 2026: Additional information on demonstrations and strikes (Safety and security).
- 13 October 2026: Updated information about national strike action (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
- 7 October 2026: Latest update: New information about demonstrations and strike action on 9 and 12 October (‘Safety and security’ page).
Plan your trip
- Belgium is in the Schengen area: count your 90/180 days, read about the Entry/Exit System and ETIAS.
- Passport validity checker · airport and airline rules
- Mobile data: compare Belgium eSIM prices on eSIMAlts
This page shows the FCDO’s headline status and quotes its text word for word; we don’t reword safety advice. It refreshes automatically, so it can lag GOV.UK by up to a day. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: FCDO foreign travel advice on GOV.UK. FCDO advice is written for British nationals; other nationalities should also check their own government’s advice.